3 months ago
2
In yet different incidental successful caller days, the Sri Lankan Navy arrested 12 fishermen from Pamban, too impounding a mechanised trawler, connected charges of poaching successful the Palk Strait successful the aboriginal hours of Monday (February 23, 2026).
Fishermen leaders expressed daze implicit the latest apprehension and appealed to the Union authorities to intervene directly, arsenic the contented concerns their livelihood.
According to Fisheries Department officials, the mechanised sportfishing boat, owned by David from Pamban, was seized on with the 12 fishermen connected board. They were detained portion sportfishing betwixt the Katchatheevu and Mannar waters.
The fishermen ventured into the oversea connected February 22 and were expected to instrumentality to the enactment astir noon connected February 23.
After preliminary interrogation, they were taken to the naval larboard astatine Talaimannar, officials added.
Condemning the arrest, fishermen person Jesu Raja said lone past week, 22 fishermen were arrested and 4 trawlers were impounded by the Sri Lankan Navy. “With conscionable a fewer days near for the festival astatine St. Antony’s Church successful Katchatheevu, specified incidents person created disharmony among the fisherfolk,” helium noted.
He further said that though Sri Lankan authorities had invited pilgrims from India to enactment successful the two-day Katchatheevu festival, specified arrests caused intelligence agony. “We are unsure whether to judge the invitation and instrumentality portion successful the celebrations oregon enactment back,” helium said, adding that akin arrests had occurred past twelvemonth adjacent to the festival.
‘No ineligible help’
Following a caller tribunal directive to merchandise six trawlers, astir 10 fishermen from Rameswaram travelled to Sri Lanka a fewer days ago, hoping to retrieve their boats. However, portion they were waiting successful the tribunal hall, officials reportedly stated the vessel owners would besides beryllium booked arsenic accused nether poaching charges. Shocked, the fishermen leaders and vessel owners returned location empty-handed 2 days ago.
Narrating the ordeal, Mr. Raja said involution by the Union authorities was the lone mode to execute a imperishable solution.
A vessel proprietor further alleged that advocates successful Sri Lanka were unwilling to correspond them successful court. “As a result, we were incapable to get immoderate ineligible relief. Only erstwhile the Union authorities directs officials astatine the Indian High Commission successful Sri Lanka volition matters determination successful our favour,” helium said.
